Top 10 Resume Trends For 2014

Top 10 Resume Trends For 2014

It’s that time of the year where job seekers need to look at their job searching techniques and resumes. Below are top 10 resume trends expected to dominate 2014.

1. Social media resume

Social media has changed the way the world connects in the past few years. It’s about time we shifted our focus to social media and its role in job searches. If you have a social media profile, you already have an online presence which can be easily found by potential employers with little effort. In fact, statistics indicate that over 90{2f7a61b4b3723d89af4d56db0c25f9af413b04bda6c1a742ffb85759a511d2e4} of employers today are using social media sites like LinkedIn to find and recruit new talent.

It is therefore important to focus on where job search is headed to. You can start by creating a social media resume using sites like resumesocial.com, careercloud.com, visualcv.com among many others. A social media resume is extremely important today for delivering your professional brand on the most popular sites online; social media sites.

2. The Infographic resume

Infographics have also taken over in the recent years in numerous applications. They haven’t however been used widely in job search applications. This is precisely why the inforgraphic resume is expected to be a hot resume trend in 2014. The infographic resume will definitely be more interesting and compelling setting candidates apart from the rest when used in the right industry and right context.

3. Facebook Timeline Resume

Imagine how marketable you could be to the right people if you were able to display your resume on Facebook. There are ongoing attempts to make trendsetting resumes. One of the most popular types of resumes is the Facebook timeline resume. If this type of resume sees the light of day, there is no doubt it willchange how job searching is done from now henceforth. Rumour has it that the resume isn’t far away. Only time will tell.

4. Video resume

Video resumes are also a likely resume trend to look out for in 2014. It is however important to note that this resume type can only complement the traditional resume as opposed to replacing the resume completely. Video resumes provide a perfect avenue for showcasing your career successes as well as achievements. Why this resume trend hasn’t taken off in the past is anyone’s guess. Both employers and employees stand to gain immensely from the whole job searching process if the trend gains momentum in 2014 given the fact that there are many sites offering video resume services i.e. careerbuilder.com, visualcv.com, jobster.com and sparkhire.com.

5. Resumes which raise the bar

Sometimes it’s about improving what you have to set new trends. Over the years, job seekers have become wiser in all aspects of creating resumes. For instance, some resume templates have become absolute. Also, some common resume terms and phrases used in the past no longer feature in most resumes today. In summary, smart job seekers have discovered simple ways of standing out from their competition i.e. cutting the fluff and utilising excellent communication skills. This resume trend is expected to take over in 2014 and subsequent years.

6. Charts and graphs

Gone are the days where resumes featured words only. There is an emerging resume trend of showcasing accomplishments using easily digestible graphs and charts. The trend is expected to be received well because graphs and charts make it easier to understand content. This resume trend is expected to take over in 2014 in industries and positions which require simplified data/information.

7. Quotations

Future resumes are also expected to feature quotations for validation purposes. It is becoming extremely important to substantiate personal brands as well as lend credibility to personal successes. There is no better way to do this other than acquire quotations from clients or supervisors. This explains why this resume trend is expected to dominate in the future.

8. LinkedIn

LinkedIn has become synonymous with professional resumes. Employers are expected to take job searching to the next level in 2014 by checking LinkedIn profiles after examining traditional resumes as well as using LinkedIn to find potential employees. As of 2013, over 90{2f7a61b4b3723d89af4d56db0c25f9af413b04bda6c1a742ffb85759a511d2e4} of employers were using LinkedIn as a source of additional information from potential employees. This trend isn’t expected to change. It will in fact make many job seekers put more effort into their LinkedIn profiles as they look to establish reputable professional brands online.

9. Interesting career summaries

2014 is also expected to be the year when career summaries will seize being boring. Resumes are expected to be more compelling and specific to individual job seekers. This will be the case because resume information has already started being used to create more depth/impact on individual career summaries. 2014 is expected to be the year when career summaries feature numbers which have been quantified to create distinctiveness and impact.

10. Forget the fluff

This is the last resume trend in this list expected to dominate in 2014. Resumes are expected to become more brief and concise. Job seekers seem to have understood the importance of getting straight to the point when it comes to creating effective resumes. This trend will definitely take over in 2014.